FanPost

Bear’s Player Profile: Pernell McPhee

Bear’s Player Profile: Pernell McPhee

In the Bear’s long and productive history, they have had several linebackers that have been among some of the NFL’s best. Players like Mike Singletary, Dick Butkus and Brian Urlacher come to mind when thinking of great Bear’s linebackers. Recently there have been such standouts as Lance Briggs, players who have made several Pro Bowls and contributed heavily to the team. The Bears, right now, have an up and coming star at the outside linebacker position that just might go down in the annuals of Bears lore as one of the better linebackers in their history. That player is number ninety two Pernell McPhee.

So who is this new face? What has he done in the past? What has he done for the Bears and what might he do in the future for this franchise? Let’s take a look at McPhee and get a little history and prediction on what he has to offer to the Bears.

McPhee played one year of high school football at Pahokee (in Florida) High School. The positions he played there at Pahokee were offensive tackle and defensive end. He helped take his team to the Florida State Championships where they won the title for their class.

McPhee didn’t begin his college career at a big time college program once he graduated high school. Instead he went to Itawamba Community College in Mississippi where he starred in that program. He collected 92 solo tackles (124 total) with 32 and a half sacks. He got noticed at the tiny college and was brought to Mississippi State where he played for a couple of seasons.

While at Mississippi State McPhee totaled 91 total tackles with 46 solo. He also had seven sacks while starting a total of 25 games for the Bulldogs. His career with the Bulldogs got him noticed by NFL scouts and he was selected in the fifth round (165th overall) by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Coming out of college, the strengths attributed to McPhee included the fact that he is a high energy player that doesn’t stop until the play is over. He was very productive in college and didn’t miss much (if any) time due to injury. He had solid closing speed and played very well against the run. He could get to the quarterback with a strong set of moves and could play either defensive end or tackle.

Some of the drawbacks to McPhee (coming out of college) included a lack of fluidity and overall athletic ability. He didn’t possess a great amount of speed to get off the edge quickly and rush the quarterback. While he had a few pass rush moves he doesn’t have a solid or wide repertoire of pass rush moves and had to have learned some additional moves in the NFL. He did need to be more aware of what is happening around him and needed to use hands better.

McPhee spent four seasons with the Ravens collecting a total of 92 tackles with 64 of those being solo, 17 sacks and three forced fumbles with one fumble recovered. While in Baltimore, McPhee started in six of 60 games and was mainly used as a situational pass rusher.

The Bears signed McPhee this past March to a five year deal so he is signed through the 2019 season. So far this year (through the Chief’s game) McPhee has a total of 26 tackles with 21 solo and five assisted. He has three sacks, one pass defended and one interception. He has also blocked a field goal.

Some fans and people in the media thought it strange that the Bears would bring in McPhee and pay him as much money as they paid him when he hasn’t started that many games in his career. Obviously General Manager Ryan Pace saw something in him that made him decide to roll the dice on him and it’s paid off huge for the Bears so far this season. McPhee has been a true leader both on and off the field for the Bears and his solid play is a big factor in the defense stepping up and playing well over the past two games (and you might want to include the Seattle game in that as well).

The Bears are getting solid production out of McPhee so far this season and as long as he stays healthy he may be the best defender the Bears have on the roster. Not only is his play on the field an asset to the team but his leadership ability is helping to bring the defense and perhaps the team together in a time that they really need a leader. McPhee has helped instill confidence in this group and it’s really showing on the field. He may be the best free agent the Bears have picked up in quite a long time.


This Fanpost was written by a Windy City Gridiron member and does not necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of its staff or community.